Hikes since Mar 2023 #tombold

• Devil's Gulch
• Saw Mill, Bat Tree Forest, Art walk (metallic)
• Point Blue Palomarin Field Station, Creek trail, High cliff trails with Eucalyptus trees. 
• Salmon Spawning near Devil's Gulch (bridge), Mountain trail to waterfalls at Devil's Gulch, Canal Creek trail
• Bodega Bay caves, Doran Beach, Bodega Bay shoreline cliff views
• Met at Sonoma's Best B&B Wine Deli and Frank Bartholomew Mansion and Buena Vista Winery
• The Inks Well at San Geronimo Creek, Kent lake dame area for Salmon viewing, Roy Redwoods
• Dillon Beach mystery rocks, Wildflower Bread company, Duncan's Mills tea shop and Jilly's Real food restaurant
• Tomales Bay hidden beaches and trails, Point Reyes for Elks, Cypress Tree Tunnel
• Shell Beach at Bodega Bay (south of goat rock entrance), Caves and beach along with Rock climbing
• Duxbury Reef 
• Doran Beach & Estero Americano

Summer and Fall.

Ah, I have not been here for a while. 

Hawaii was excellent and I did go to India in July though! Rebooked as FOMO took over and kids had an absolute blast. Ayodhya, Varanasi, Ranchi and Bangalore. 

August took me to Monterey and MOMA, September-October took me on 3 hikes with Tom. There was Durga Puja pankti bhoj at home and of course classes at Goshala. 

I think I am happy to stay at home and be an indoor cat. 

Oct has some official paper work lined up along with Halloween outing with Miko. Nov starts with Dia de los Muertos outing - my first and I am excited! Dec has Kerala and Cancun lined up. 

Summer

Summer 2025 started officially. Hanuman Maui awaits and so does Island fun. India trip FOMO and we are back! Let’s see how June and July treat us. 

Oh and we will be handling June summer camp as well.. 

Graduation

4th June. A big milestone. A realization. A new chapter. A new reconciliation. All for good. 

GoKshetra

19th Jan - I started a personal project of sorts. I collaborated with Sri Surabhi Gokshetra to start teaching kids about cultural and spiritual aspects of our scriptures.  It did have its bumpy moments but was able to proceed even with it. We are conducting our first summer camp this June. 

I did journal a little more than I blogged this past couple of months. This month's highlight was 1st place in Science Fair; cancellation of India trip; upcoming trip to Hawaii and retreat. I am also going to Laguna Beach this coming weekend. Oh, kids joined me on a Indie Tom Hike. 

13th Mar. Inference. Chess and Ludo. Thinking anything else is a waste of time. 

3rd day was crucial, something shifted to make me accept the situation and hence I started focusing on the process they wanted me to follow. I felt like that today. Not acceptance per se, but it felt like the beginning of acceptance. This is not going to change. This whole thing cannot accelerate or go away. This whole thing will sit, look at me in the eye and make me feel absolutely useless in the process. So if there is no way out, there is only one thing I can do. 

This is needed as part of cosmic dance. What worries me then? Is it that I will be alone or is it that I won’t have this one person? Or is it that I just need anyone around? 

Logic tells me I am not alone anyways. Sharanagati abhi hui nahi hai.

There is a sensation that comes back. It is a reaction to unfairness, to broken dreams, to not being seen. Unfortunately no one can ever fix that. It leaves a bitter, cold taste but adds strength and resolve to proceed without any regrets. It solidifies a cold demeanor further reminding us that warmth should always be saved for self. Neither missing the warm self, nor being fond of the cold self - it’s just a state maybe. Observing and letting it be. The sensations that wash over with the rare reminder are real. 

Shasta

I dialed down every other “sound”, “feeling”, “sensation” - literally like a dial. It became quiet as I focused on one tiny spot and I amplified it just how we zoom into a picture. I could feel it better; I could concentrate on it better! 

3rd Feb

44.

Past 2 months have had experiences go all over the place. I visited Braj bhoomi in December. I was able to be in the same room with someone I admire a lot. December also saw 2 camping trips - both turned out better than expected. https://www.cavesprings.com/ is highly recommended or rather the town of Dunsmuir is fun!

Jan was overwhelming. US politics, Mahakumbh, prices of eggs, Nvidia and Deepseek. But it also saw start of my teaching journey - let's where the universe is taking me with this. I was busy this month with work, home and projects. 

But I cannot shake this undertone of something being amiss. Why?